Gainesboro officials said potential flow restriction in the town’s water lines could prevent a planned treatment plant from reaching its full capacity.
Water Plant Supervisor Jerry Rhoten said the new plant is designed to process 1.5 million gallons per day, but current testing suggests the existing lines cannot support that flow.
“They say we got some kind of restriction in the line or something other,” Rhoten said. “We’re gonna either have to upgrade the line or something before we get the new plant because we won’t be getting enough flow for 1.5 million.”
Consultant Zeda Hillis said the town was forced to begin planning for a new facility because the current plant has reached a critical threshold. Head said the state requires municipalities to seek alternatives once a plant exceeds 80 percent of its capacity.
“You would eventually if you keep growing and you’re expanding your residential base and industrial use, you would lose… You wouldn’t be able to keep up with what you’re trying to sell,” Hillis said. “Once your plant reaches that 80% capacity is what triggered having to start looking at any plans to build a new plant or add on to the old plant and increase the pumping capacity.”
Rhoten said the town has already completed some upgrades to the system, including the installation of larger pumps at the intake. Lowrance said the project has been divided into phases to utilize available funding.
“We didn’t take the new line all the way from where the new plant’s going all the way to the intake,” Rhoten said. “They replaced a section of it with the first phase. And then they did the intake as part of the phase. And when we build the new plant it’ll be in that last part. It’ll be getting the 1.5 to your plant.”
Hillis said the 1.5 million gallon capacity is intended to meet the needs of the town for the next 20 years. Hillis said the design will allow for future expansions by adding basins rather than constructing an entirely new facility.